I think Cisco could contribute by stop being so cryptic and answering the questions that you and other guys are asking.

Right now, the situation is really bad:

-no simulators

-no vendors supporting racks

-no Cisco 360 program

-no information from Cisco at all

The result: impossible to prepare the exam, because 95% of the candidates, even if they work in an ISP, they don't have access in their labs to this kind of hardware: XR 12000, 7600, .....

So, I only see two solutions to the problem that we face, both in the Cisco Learning direction:

- The Cisco 360 program. We know that Cisco is developing this program. What we don't know is when will be released. So, my first question: When is Cisco going to release the 360 program for CCIE SP?. Vincent, could you please answer this question?. You don't have to be precise, it would be enough to know if it is within Cisco plans for this year.

- The Cisco Learning Labs. We know that Cisco has the intention to develop new labs for other certifications. What we don't know is what kind of certifications and when. So, my second question: Is Cisco going to develop Learning Labs for CCIE SP?. Vincent, could you please answer this question?. You don't have to be precise, it would be enough to know if it is within Cisco plans for this year.

Also, I am doubtful about Cisco Learning Labs. Would it be really a complete solution to prepare CCIE SP Lab or only a small help?.

Hello fornarina, instead of waiting indefinitely you can go for another track or if you stick for the SP track go for Juniper certifications and maybe if Cisco announces something in the future you would not waste your time.

Yes, I will go for CCIE R&S if within two months all this uncertainty is not resolved.

Juniper certifications are also a good option, but what I don't like about them is the recertification process. I think you have to pass the lab exam every two years. Am I right?. This is too demanding. Can someone with experience in Juniper certifications confirm this point?.

I think the easiest way to start your preperation at thispoint of time would be use the old materials, lets say INE- CCIE SP v2 material and use it on 7200/7600 with 12.2 33 SR, use 7200/7600 for everything ( P,PE and CE). Also create your own mini labs for all the technologies/features in the Blue print. Also try getting access to couple of XR 12k's and 3400 CE's to practice VPLS. Since 7600's are IOU based, AFAIK, you cannot use vpls without es cards so my assumption at thispoint o time will be that vpls will be tested on xr platform (gsr's)

Thankfully, no, you don't have the pass the lab exam every two years. That would be very irritating (especially now that I have two!)

But you have to take the written qualifying exam (the new ones are knows as JNCIP-SP and JNCIP-ENT depending on your track), and where Cisco has the "one recert for all", Juniper does not. Arguably a good point, but not nearly as much fun along the way!

I don't think I'd be as quick to write off Cisco though just because there aren't answers yet. Typically, companies like Cisco will hold things fairly close to the chest until an announcement is ready, or until their ready to make good on whatever the details are. While smaller companies may be better about rolling with things or making them up as they go along, this doesn't translate well into large organizations!

There's stuff that will progress out... but I hate to be the stickler here.... But ya know... You CAN prepare for a CCIE without formalized preparation materials, right? I mean, that's pretty much how us old farts (aka early adopters) did it!

You have the blueprint. You have a checklist. You have the doc links... now it's just you, your equipment and your warped sense of humor....

That is a good strategy, I have decided to work on the individual technologies as they're listed on the blueprint/checklist. You should be able to configure all core technologies in IPv4 and IPv6 unless it's explictly excluded or not supported in either IOS or IOS-XR.

The gap between SP v2.0 and SP v3.0 is significant, especially if you have limited access to IOS-XR.

IOS-XR isn't THAT much of a shift from standard IOS. Even without access to it, if you have enough of a grasp on the fundamental technologies, you should be able to go through documentation and compare the XR docs to regular IOS docs... Pick a technology...

Compare them. And you'll find that while there are differences, they are subtle. (IMO)

I ran across that with a client once... GSRs are fun boxes that COULD be running IOS or IOS-XR. I neglected to ask which one, and was surprised getting on-site that it wasn't normal IOS. But other than the initial shock, wasn't that hard to get around. You'll be irritated at typing things you are used to and being told you can't do that... But ? is still your friend, as are the docs.

I agree that it's not something that is impossible without having access to equipment, however when compared to a lab exam where you are required to configure a large number of devices in limited time frame it would be beneficial if you have had the opportunity to practice the configuration syntax for the core technologies on IOS-XR.

Although I have worked with IOS-XR in relation to my studies I am still not confortable and spend significantly more time on configuration that is relatively easy on IOS as I've done it many times. I guess it is something that you get used to over time.

The context sensitive help is our friend and I am happy with the quality of the documation for the IOS-XR software release that is relevant for the CCIE SP Lab.

I think people just make a big fuss about this XR thing...after reading XR Fundamentals and cramming the commands using pen and paper, I configured (when I had one chance) CSC with a bunch of CRS-1 routers with relative ease. The number of devices do not matter...even if there were 100 routers (hopefully not), I believe Cisco will make it possible to complete the lab within the 8 hours.

IOS XR or any specific software on the exam is not the biggest hurdle. If you have tested each and every feature, understand the concept and technology and know where it is documented on the Cisco website, you'll be able to configure it on any Cisco platform no matter how the configuration syntax.

However, having experienced IOS XR prior to your exam will have an influence on your ability to complete those task on the fly and apply first time right configuration. I.e. you can easly make typo's or with cut & pasting insert interfaces that are non-existant, IOS XR allows you to do that. So having a moderate experience with the hardware/software is an advantage for the exam. Also, take into account that in order to pass you either need to be very clean in your configuration and verification or have enough time left at the end to properly verify your configuration and asess if it meets the requirements.